Russia is investing heavily in Armata tanks – 2,300 of them. That’s more than are currently in all of Europe. Foto: TT

Russian defence spending doubled in 10 years

Defence spending has doubled in Russia since 2005. This year alone it is expected to increase by 15%. At the same time, the country’s economy is shrinking.

“Russia doesn’t think the world is a safe place,” says Siemon Wezeman, Russian expert at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI.

“NATO is expanding and there’s been international pressure on Russia. They still see themselves as a global power and therefore they think they need to show military strength.”

This year alone, Russia planned to increase spending by 20%, but the national economy didn’t allow that. The increase is likely to amount to 15% this year compared with 2014 according to SIPRI.

“They lack money and technology, and the oil price is low right now,” Wezeman explains.

Defence spending down in Sweden and the US

In the United States, defence spending decreased by 0.4% between 2005 and 2014. In Sweden it has decreased by 2.5%, while Russia’s defence spending has increased by 97% in inflation-adjusted prices in the same period. At the same time, the US defence budget is still many times larger than the Russian equivalent.

Russia Europe’s biggest investor

Russia is the European country that is investing the most in military spending in relation to its gross domestic product, or GDP, says SIPRI. Currently Russia is investing heavily in electronic surveillance and the Armata tank. According to SIPRI, Russia is planning to invest in 2,300 of this type of tank. That’s more tanks than currently exist in all of Europe.

Russia is also investing in its air force. It will be implementing new versions of its old SU-30, SU-35 and MIG-29 models, as well as developing a fifth generation of the T-50 fighter plane.

“Russia wants to show Europe and the United States that they’re on the ball and are not to be taken lightly. They want to demonstrate military power to put pressure on the Baltic countries and others.”